Preaching in a different church almost every Sunday, Nancy Taylor learned firsthand how often visitors go unnoticed even in churches that see themselves as “friendly.” Christian hospitality, she writes, requires that we mind the doors of our churches not as gatekeepers but as disciples charged with oiling the hinges so that they swing open easily.

Is your congregation squeamish when it comes to evangelism? In this episode, Lewis Center Director F. Douglas Powe Jr. speaks with Dr. Priscilla Pope-Levison on how congregations can more authentically engage a variety of evangelistic practices with confidence and integrity.

Listen now, read transcript, or watch video.

How can your church building be an asset rather than a liability? Dave Harder says we must interrogate the dominant narrative that says church is what happens in the building for a few hours on a Sunday and let a new narrative emerge — one that focuses on God’s hopes and dreams for the neighborhood.

Churches wondering if a merger with another church might be best for their mission can consider these four questions offered by Jim Tomberlin and Warren Bird:

Would our congregation be better by merging rather than remaining separate?

Could we accomplish more together than we could separately?

Would our community be better served if we joined together?

Could the kingdom of God be further enlarged by joining together?

Want more Right Questions? Read Right Questions for Church Leaders.

Learn how your church can make visitors feel truly welcome and comfortable with Be the Welcoming Church. This study includes engaging videos and a Study and Discussion Guide providing scriptures, introductory information, discussion questions, and prayers to structure a group conversation. Be the Welcoming Church may be used for hospitality training or in online or in-person adult classes and groups.

Wesley Theological Seminary and the Lewis Center together offer the Doctor of Ministry in Church Leadership Excellence. With this track, clergy will receive the enhanced knowledge, skills, and motivation to increase congregational and denominational service, vitality, and growth.

Learn how your congregation can make a good first impression with first-time visitors. 50 Ways to Welcome New People provides strategies and tips to ensure your visitors feel truly welcome and at home in worship, plus guidance on visitor follow-ups and ways to be more inviting in your church.

“The path to empowerment leadership doesn’t begin when other people trust you. It begins when you trust yourself.”

Frances Frei and Anne Morriss

Your capital budget isn’t just about facilities — it’s about using your facilities to further your church’s mission. The Building and Funding Your Capital Budget Video Tool Kit helps you understand what a capital budget is, how to engage the big questions about your church, and how to assess your current situation. No matter your church size, this resource provides clues and wisdom to help your capital budget advance your mission and accomplish God’s vision for your congregation.